Bern Minster | |
---|---|
Berner Münster | |
Berner Münster viewed from Kirchenfeldbrücke.
|
|
46°56′50″N 7°27′05″E / 46.94722°N 7.45139°ECoordinates: 46°56′50″N 7°27′05″E / 46.94722°N 7.45139°E | |
Location | Bern, Canton of Bern |
Country | Switzerland |
Denomination | Swiss Reformed |
Previous denomination | Roman Catholic |
Website | www |
History | |
Former name(s) | Cathedral of St. Vincent |
Founded | 11 March 1421 |
Events | 1518 Rectangular tower completed 1575 Major construction ends 1528 Converted to the Reformation 1783 Organ installed 1893 Bell tower completed |
Associated people | Thomas Wyttenbach |
Architecture | |
Status | Minster |
Functional status | Active |
Heritage designation | Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance |
Architect(s) | Matthäus Ensinger |
Architectural type | Cathedral |
Style | Gothic |
Completed | 1893 |
Specifications | |
Length | 84.2 m (276 ft) |
Width | 33.68 m (110.5 ft) |
Nave width | 39.37 m (129.2 ft) |
Height | 20.70 m (67.9 ft) |
Number of spires | 1 |
Spire height | 100.6 m (330 ft) |
Materials | Grey Sandstone |
Tenor bell weight | 10.5 long cwt (1,200 lb or 500 kg) |
The Bern Minster (German: Berner Münster) is a Swiss Reformed cathedral, (or minster) in the old city of Bern, Switzerland. Built in the Gothic style, its construction started in 1421. Its tower, with a height of 100.6 m (330 ft), was only completed in 1893. It is the tallest cathedral in Switzerland and is a Cultural Property of National Significance.
The Minster of Bern is located on the southern side of the Aare peninsula. The cathedral is oriented east and west like the rest of the Old City of Bern. To the north, Münstergasse runs along the side of the building. The west façade of the Münster dominates Münsterplatz. On the south side of the cathedral is the Münsterplattform.
It is a three nave basilica without a transept. The entire cathedral is 84.2 meters (276 ft) long and 33.68 m (110.5 ft) wide. The central nave is 39.37 m (129.2 ft) long by 11.10 m (36.4 ft) wide and is 20.70 m (67.9 ft) high. The two side naves are very similar in dimensions, the north nave is 52.50 m (172.2 ft) long, while the southern one is slightly longer at 52.72 m (173.0 ft). They are both 6.45 m (21.2 ft) wide and 10.40 m (34.1 ft) high. The altar house and choir together are 25.20 m (82.7 ft) long, 10.92 m (35.8 ft) wide and 19.40 m (63.6 ft) high. The cathedral has a single tower in the west, which is 100.60 m (330.1 ft) high. Below the tower, there is a 10.15 m (33.3 ft) long by 10.46 m (34.3 ft) wide, tower hall.
There are a total of ten bays in the building. The central nave has five of these bays. Each of the side naves has two bays, with side chapels built against the exterior walls. The last bay is within the choir.